Shloka 8

इन्द्र-प्रायश्चित्तं, कृष्णाभिषेकः, गोविन्द-नामप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

महभङ्गविरुद्धेन मया गोकुलनाशकाः समादिष्टा महामेघास् तैश् चैतत् कदनं कृतम्

Transliteration

mahabhaṅgaviruddhena mayā gokulanāśakāḥ samādiṣṭā mahāmeghās taiś caitat kadanaṃ kṛtam

Translation

In opposition to that great humiliation, I commanded the mighty storm-clouds—destroyers of Gokula; and by them this devastation has been wrought.

Word by Word

• महाभङ्गविरुद्धेन: by/with (one) opposed to the great disruption
• महाभङ्गविरुद्धेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाभङ्ग + विरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (Instrumental singular masculine; adjectival)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (करण) एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular)

• गोकुलनाशकाः: destroyers of Gokula
• गोकुलनाशकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोकुल + नाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural masculine)

• समादिष्टाः: were commanded
• समादिष्टाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√दिश् (धातु) → समादिष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘having been commanded’ (Past passive participle; nominative plural masculine)

• महामेघाः: great clouds
• महामेघाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural masculine)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Nom./Acc. singular neuter)

• कदनम्: devastation, destruction
• कदनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (Nom./Acc. singular neuter)

• कृतम्: was done
• कृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त-प्रत्ययः); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘done/made’ (Past passive participle; neuter sg)

Speaker

Indra (speaking in the narrative as the instigator of the storm against Gokula)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect the Vraja community and cows and to humble Indra’s pride, reestablishing proper devotion and dharma.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Protection of the innocent and reorientation from prideful ritualism to devotion centered on Krishna

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Gokula
• Mahāmeghāḥ (storm-clouds)

FAQs

What is the significance of Indra ordering the storm-clouds in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights Indra’s wounded pride and sets up the teaching that even the king of gods is subordinate to the Supreme Lord’s will, especially when devotees are threatened.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the conflict between Indra and the cowherds of Gokula?

As a moral and theological conflict: divine authority based on ego (Indra) versus dharma grounded in devotion and the Supreme’s protection (Krishna’s guardianship of Gokula).

What is the theological importance of Vishnu/Krishna in this context?

The episode underscores Vishnu/Krishna as the supreme sovereign who curbs deva-pride and safeguards devotees, revealing the devas as powerful yet not ultimate.